Chapter 18: Experiment (2)

Boruto did some more experiments with Kagebunshin. First, he discovered that the farther away the clone was from the main body, the weaker the connection it formed.

He estimated the current farthest distance he could maintain was around a 5 kilometer radius. If it's more than that, even though the clone's form won't disappear, Boruto would completely lose connection so he won't know where the clone was located.

Actually, such a distance was considered good. If it's a normal clone technique or an elemental based clone technique, it's not even a tenth of Boruto's current mastery range. Moreover, such a clone would lose form when the connection was lost.

In another experiment, Boruto found that if he didn't replicate the things he used, he could make up to six clones.

However, it's almost impossible for Boruto to spoil his image by showing his bunshin naked. If he knew his father in his teens created an even more embarrassing technique, then Boruto would probably vomit blood out of embarrassment.

Then, Boruto also experimented on the strength of the clone body. The clone's muscles and bones were made to be as strong as the real body, but they were weak in durability.

The real body if forced would be able to accept non-fatal stab wounds or broken bones. However, when a clone received such damage, they would also dissipate unless Boruto deliberately used up chakra to maintain the disabled clone.

Such actions were only suitable for tricking the enemy.

After experimenting enough, Boruto determined the direction of his training.

Of the three optimal clones that Boruto created, he would assign each of them a role.

The first Bunshin would serve as his sparring partner to train taijutsu. There were wise words that said, 'beat yourself to keep growing' from the books that Boruto read. The current situation was perfect for realizing those words.

Meanwhile, the second bunshin was assigned to understand the version of Kagebunshin developed by his father. Could bunshin make bunshin? This answer could only be obtained after Boruto tried.

In theory, Kagebunshin clones had all the abilities of the original body. That meant every taijutsu, ninjutsu, genjutsu, fuinjutsu, and others could be used as long as the user had enough chakra. However, whether Kagebunshin clones could use Kagebunshin was an answer that still needed to be sought.

Boruto didn't immediately tell the second clone to try. He still wanted this clone to comprehend his father's version of Kagebunshin from the stone.

He also wanted to keep a sense of mystery to himself. Answering curiosity too quickly was sometimes unsatisfactory.

For the third clone, Boruto gave him special instructions. He ordered this clone to find a secluded place in the forest to torture himself until he disappeared.

The reason Boruto did this was not because he's a masochist. Boruto only had a wild guess, if he continued to endure the pain of the clone's 'death', maybe he could get a little closer to understanding the power of his eye.

After all, the pain from the clone's 'death' and the pain from using his eye power were similar. The only difference was the time period.

He guessed that if he got used to the clone's 'death', then his tolerance for the painful effects of using his eye would increase.

For now, Boruto didn't want to experiment of using his eye. He was still quite traumatized by the pain that made his head felt like it would explode at any moment.

Once the tasks were distributed to each clone, the training cycle began.

"Ha..." Boruto punched his clone over the river.

The clone parried Boruto's punch with both hands. The clone's legs tried to balance his stance above the water.

Boruto who saw the clone's balance unsteady immediately ran to his blind spot and hit the back of the clone's head with all his might.

Poof!

The clone disappeared.

Boruto panting, trying to regulate his breathing rhythm.

In the middle of that moment, Boruto's forehead wrinkled.

"The third clone has died for the 24th time. The first clone didn't let me down as a training partner. Unfortunately, the second clone..."

Boruto glanced at his second clone who was still trying to comprehend Naruto's Kagebunshin version. Among the three clones, this second clone had never even died.

Boruto felt disappointed. Either to the clone or himself.

"Kagebunshin!" Boruto spoke.

Two new clones formed. They already knew what needed to be done. One of the clones immediately went to 'torment himself' in a remote forest. Meanwhile the other clones had already took a fighting stance.

"This time, we won't just be using taijutsu. Ninjutsu and weapons are welcome." Boruto explained to his clone the new rules.

After several cycles of training, Boruto discovered another of Kagebunshin's strengths. He could telepathic thoughts to his bunshin. However, because telepathy was new to him, he was still not used to it and would mostly speak to instruct orders.

The bunshin nodded.

Another practice cycle began until sunset.

"You have worked hard." Naruto clone complimented his son.

"Just so so." Boruto answered flatly.

"Here, freshly cooked fish meat." Naruto served him the grilled fish he had just cooked.

"Thank you father..." Boruto was a bit reluctant to call this bunshin 'father'.

"Why? You think bunshin doesn't deserve to be called 'father'?" Naruto clone teased.

"Hump!" Boruto just snorted and started biting the fish. Suddenly, Boruto's face showed a surprised expression.

"How? Not bad, right?" Naruto clone asked.

"This... how can father make such a delicious grilled fish?"

"Hahaha... don't be surprised! Your father has a lot of hidden abilities that if shown would make many people jealous." Naruto clone boasted.

"Shameless bragging!"

"..."

Hearing his son's ridicule, Naruto clone felt awkward and speechless.

A moment of silence ensued.

"By the way... I didn't know father could cook before. Father eats instant ramen even more than mom's cooks. When did father learn to cook?"

"Ahem... it's a bit of a long story. As a teenager, your father followed a hermit on an adventure. Since your father learned a few things from the hermit, your father tried to return the favor by becoming a chef during the trip."

"Father sures it was to return the favor and not because the hermit forced you?" Boruto said in disbelief.

"Hey, what do you mean? How could that perverted hermit force father to do something?"

Boruto frowned at the strange term. "Pervert hermit?"

"Ahem... I mean, the hermit is a bit strange. This fellow sometimes laughs to himself thinking about many things. It seems like he's training his mind to focus. Therefore this hermit's strength was quite impressive in his time." Naruto clone explained in a feigned calm.

"Oh... there's a person like that? What's this hermit's name anyway? If he's strong he shouldn't be an unknown person right?" Boruto showed interest in the strange hermit figure.

"His name is... Jiraiya..." Naruto clone spoke somewhat melancholy.

"Jiraiya? Could this be Jiraiya from the three Legendary Sanin? A strong figure on par with the 5th Hokage's grandmother?" Boruto was surprised by that person's background.

Even though Boruto was quite informative for the biographies of strong people, he didn't go into too much detail about it. Although Jiraiya's name was impressive, compared to the Kage, this name was certainly not on the same level.

Meaning on the same level was his fame. As for his strength, Boruto himself was not very clear. After all, even though he thought his father was strong and possibly the strongest in all of the Fire Nation, he certainly didn't think the other Kage couldn't compete with his father.

These were the different height of understanding power level. Ants would not understand the difference in strength between a horse, buffalo, rhino and elephant. Ants would only think that these animals were giants who could trample them to death.

"Yes, he is Jiraiya of the three Legendary Sanin. He is also your father's teacher besides Kakashi's teacher." Naruto clone spoke fondly.